4.1.2
Structure & Chronology
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Structure - Tension and Drama
The structure of the play lets Priestley show the characters and audience events in ways that build tension and drama throughout the story.
Role of the narrator
- Priestley uses Inspector Goole as a narrator who controls the release of information to the audience and characters in the play, and the order that the audience hear key details.
- Inspector Goole knows everything before the characters even tell him. This creates tension as the audience wonders how Inspector Goole knew that a girl had died.
- The audience also wonders how the family was involved before the death had actually happened.
True natures revealed
- As the characters learn details of the story and stop the flow by interrupting and arguing, we see their true natures. More tension is built up for the audience.
Characters' reactions
- By presenting a group of characters who only know their own role in Eva Smith’s story (once they realise who she was), Priestley could create more drama and tension.
- We see the characters’ reactions to one another’s stories, and their reactions to the very idea of someone from a lower social class interrogating them.
Structure of An Inspector Calls
The play is structured in 3 acts:
Act 1
- We meet the Birlings in their rose-tinted world.
- The Inspector enters and shatters the illusion (misleading image) because we learn about Mr Birling and Sheila’s involvement in Eva’s death.
- As the act ends, we learn that Gerald knew Eva as well. We see a huge argument between the newly-engaged couple.
Act 2
- The act opens with Gerald being uncertain and upset.
- But Priestley leaves Gerald and moves to Mrs Birling, who argues with him and tries to stop the investigation.
- Goole moves back to Gerald, who reveals his part in the story.
- Then, we move to Mrs Birling’s role. She ends up telling Goole to punish whoever got Eva pregnant.
- Just as Mrs Birling figures out it was her own son, the act ends.
Act 3
- Eric enters and reveals his part in the story.
- Mrs Birling tries to withdraw her statements from before.
- The Inspector tells them that they all killed Eva Smith and tells them to be less selfish. Then he leaves.
- The family find that the story is false. The audience see the true impact of Inspector Goole – three of the main characters have learnt nothing.
- Just as they are showing their joy at this, a real Inspector calls and says he needs to interview them all.
1Plot Summary
2Context & Key Themes
2.1Context & Key Themes
2.1.1Social Class & Equality2.1.2Class Tension2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism2.1.5Blame & Responsibility2.1.6Attitudes to Women2.1.7Characterisation of Women2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 22.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes2.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Socialism vs Communism2.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Edna2.1.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Women in the Play2.1.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Eva Smith
3Key Characters
3.1Mr Birling
3.2Mrs Birling
3.6Inspector Goole
3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Authorial Method
5Recap: Main Quotes
5.1Mr Birling Quotes
5.2Mrs Birling Quotes
5.6Inspector Goole Quotes
Jump to other topics
1Plot Summary
2Context & Key Themes
2.1Context & Key Themes
2.1.1Social Class & Equality2.1.2Class Tension2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism2.1.5Blame & Responsibility2.1.6Attitudes to Women2.1.7Characterisation of Women2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 22.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes2.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Socialism vs Communism2.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Edna2.1.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Women in the Play2.1.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Eva Smith
3Key Characters
3.1Mr Birling
3.2Mrs Birling
3.6Inspector Goole
3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Authorial Method
5Recap: Main Quotes
5.1Mr Birling Quotes
5.2Mrs Birling Quotes
5.6Inspector Goole Quotes
Practice questions on Structure & Chronology
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1
- 2Inspector Goole:True / false
- 3What stops the flow of the story?Multiple choice
- 4Summary of An Inspector CallsPut in order
- 5Summary of Act 1Put in order
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